Chapter 06
. I Don’t Dislike It
Thud.
She closed the book. She slammed it so hard that little specks of dust scattered in front of her eyes and settled on the blanket. Ignoring it all, Shanelika shoved the book aside and buried her face into the pillow, muttering to herself.
“When is he coming back?”
A sulky expression appeared above the pillow. Still lying on her stomach, Shanelika kicked her legs in the air, making the bed bounce with each movement.
It had already been a week. A week since Shanelika entered the Cartel mansion. And also a week since she last saw the mansion’s owner.
They had dinner together the day she arrived—and that was it. Just as they finished eating, some men suddenly came to see him, and after exchanging a few words, he had hurried out of the room, leaving Shanelika alone.
“He must be super busy. He hasn’t even come home in a week.”
Even though he was gone, Shanelika hadn’t just sat around doing nothing. Though the mansion was devoid of its master, she was his bonded mate. So she wandered the mansion freely and ate whatever she wanted.
What she had really wanted to do while waiting for him was explore the human world beyond the mansion. But for the entire week, Shanelika had stayed quietly inside. The mansion staff stopped her, saying she couldn’t go out alone since there had been no official announcement about her engagement yet.
Of course, that wasn’t enough to keep Shanelika from sneaking out. But she figured there was no need to provoke the master of the house—especially since he was her bonded dragon.
Besides, staying inside the mansion wasn’t all that bad. Mainly because of the enormous library inside.
Though she had already spent 199 years learning the basics about the human world and this realm, it had all been from a dragon’s perspective. Dry, objective facts like which nations existed and what kinds of creatures lived there.
But this library was filled with books written by humans—filled with their own thoughts and subjectivity. That was more than enough to spark her curiosity.
So for the past week, Shanelika had locked herself in the library, reading whatever books she could get her hands on. The ones now scattered all over her bed were part of that collection.
Still, a week inside the mansion was enough. She was itching to go outside. After all, she could read books anytime as long as she stayed here.
Shanelika was ready to go out right now. But for that to happen, the master of the house needed to come home.
“I want to go outside…”
This was the real reason for her sulking. In truth, she was planning to sneak out tomorrow regardless of whether he returned. There weren’t many servants, so slipping out wouldn’t be too difficult.
But something felt off. Deep down, she thought it’d be better if he were with her.
“It’s just… because hatchlings shouldn’t wander alone. That’s all.”
She mumbled softly, then shook her head.
“No, that’s just an excuse. I came here by myself, didn’t I?”
She decided to be honest with herself.
She just… wanted to be with him. He was handsome, nice to look at, and being with him felt reassuring.
“Then why isn’t he coming back?”
Even if they couldn’t go out together, completely staying away from the mansion seemed strange.
Was he the kind of person who couldn’t stay home? He had suddenly disappeared for 199 years on Spicher Island too, and now, even during this visit, he wasn’t coming home.
Rolling around on the bed, hugging the soft white blanket, Shanelika couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“Come to think of it… I don’t even know his human name. Or what he does.”
All she knew was his surname: Cartel.
She’d had plenty of chances to ask the mansion staff, but she didn’t. What kind of fiancée doesn’t even know that? And it’s not like she could say, “I don’t know because he’s a dragon and I’m only familiar with his dragon form.”
She lightly tapped her forehead. She should’ve asked him when they had dinner together.
“I’ll ask first thing when he comes back!”
Whoosh.
A wave of her hand extinguished the candle by the bedside. Darkness quickly filled the room.
“…Hm?”
But a faint light flickered outside the window. Shanelika sat up. It was already past midnight. Though she’d only been at the mansion for a week, she knew well enough that there shouldn’t be any lights outside at this hour.
She ran to the window and stretched her neck out. At the main entrance, dark figures appeared. The dim light made it hard to see, so she rubbed her eyes and squinted. Then she saw who it was.
Thud.
“He’s back!”
She bolted for the door, excitement bubbling in her chest.
Crash.
“…?”
Derwin instinctively reached for the dagger at his waist as the door burst open. He had just returned to the mansion after midnight. Who would dare enter the master’s room at this hour without permission? A would-be assassin, no doubt.
“Lord!”
But the bright voice that followed stopped his hand from drawing the blade.
Derwin squinted. Though it was dim, he could make out a small figure walking toward him—lightly, almost skipping.
Then, her delicate features appeared in the candlelight. Though the candle was yellow, her face seemed to glow like sunlight. Her long, nearly white hair cascaded down either side of her face, revealing a pale neck and shoulders. She wore a white slip that barely reached her thighs—dangerously short. Her slender white legs stretched out beneath it.
Damn it.
Derwin cursed internally. His throat tightened involuntarily. He quickly averted his gaze, his body flushed with heat.
“Where did you go? Why are you just coming back now? What were you doing for a week?”
Her energetic voice fired off questions. Derwin took a step back, trying to compose himself.
“Why won’t you answer me? I was so bored without you! There’s so much I want to do!”
Like Moberion.
Derwin thought of his small dog. Since it was a pup, Moberion always leapt into his arms after he came home from long outings. Shanelika reminded him exactly of that now. Even if she hadn’t thrown herself at him.
What am I even thinking?
A certain part of his body reacted strongly. He needed to get out—now.
Just as he was about to tell her to leave the room, he noticed the large pillow tucked under her arm.
Late night. Pillow. Lingerie.
Only one thought filled his head.
“…Is this what the lady came here for?”
His voice turned cold. Shanelika tilted her head, puzzled, but instead of responding, she focused on the faint scent around him.
“…Alcohol?”
Muttering to herself, her eyes widened.
“Yeah, it’s alcohol. Smells like it… Did you drink?”
She stepped closer, sniffing near him. Her long lashes fluttered prettily, catching his gaze.
“Is becoming the mistress of this mansion really so important to you?”
Derwin ignored her question and said only what he wanted to say.
“Huh?”
Shanelika had no idea what he meant.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But where did you drink? Can I try it too?”
She licked her lips unconsciously. The smell wasn’t particularly pleasant, but she instinctively knew she’d like alcohol—something she’d never tasted before.
But she had no idea what that gesture looked like to a man, at this late hour.
Whip.
Derwin suddenly pulled her close. She lost balance and landed on the bed—with him above her. His warm breath, laced with alcohol, grazed her cheek.
“W-what…?”
Caught in this unexpected, suggestive position, Shanelika struggled to process what was happening.
“If this is what you want, then I’ll give it to you.”
“Want… what?”
Her voice trembled. Understandably so. His devastatingly handsome face was so close, she could’ve kissed him just by lifting her head. The quiver in her voice mirrored her pounding heart.
“You want to spend the night with me, don’t you?”
“Spend… the night?”
The unexpected words made her mind go blank.
“I, um…”
She needed to say it was a misunderstanding—but no words came out.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
It wasn’t her dragon heart, but her human heart—racing wildly. Honestly, even if this misunderstanding led to them spending the night together, it might not be so bad.
His face drew closer. Her whole body—chest, fingers, face, head—shivered with the rhythm of her heart.
“T-that’s not why I came!”
She turned her head and shouted with her eyes tightly shut. A small act of resistance in the face of an overwhelming situation.
“No?”
His voice turned cold—and curt.
Shanelika swallowed hard. Her instincts said yes, but she had to speak the truth. Letting a misunderstanding fester would only lead to trouble.
“I just… came.”
Her voice trailed off. And yet, she felt a pang of regret. Had she ruined a perfectly good moment?
“So…”
Derwin’s voice dropped lower.
“You don’t want to?”
“…Huh?”
“I asked if you don’t want to sleep with me.”
Despite her trembling, Shanelika tried to understand the meaning behind his words. In those black eyes wasn’t just magnetic charm, but confidence.
He was certain she wouldn’t say no.
He was right. There was no way she could dislike the idea of spending a night with such a perfect man. And he wasn’t just a good-looking human. He was a dragon—the first dragon she had ever met after awakening. The one who had stolen her heart at first sight. Her lifelong bonded mate.
“I… don’t dislike it.”
Shanelika finally parted her lips. Her face had turned completely red.
